For MTN-Qhubeka, the Tour de Suisse is a major season highlight and the team has headed into the race with their A team. In the sprint finishes, the team has put their faith in Gerald Ciolek but until now there has been no glory for the fast German.

The 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse came down to a bunch kick with Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) taking the win over Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano). The run in to the line was tight and technical, with 300m to go a 90 degree bend took out a number of riders and held up all but 11 riders who would then contest for the win. Unfortunately all the Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung riders were caught behind the crash, luckily though none of the MTN riders went down.

As with yesterdays stage, the racing today saw an early break go clear only to be caught with 10km’s to go as the sprinters looked to challenge for the win on what will most likely be the last pure sprinters stage of the Tour de Suisse. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung were unlucky to have Gerald Ciolek caught behind the crash today as the German was looking eager and hungry for a good result by constantly riding in the front positions over the last 10km’s.

Again Louis Meintjes and Sergio Pardilla would finish safely in the bunch for Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, not losing any time and therefore both riders held on to their good GC positions. The coming stages will become more selective as some serious climbing looms as well stage 7′s race against the clock, which will certainly show who of the GC contenders are on form and who also aren’t.

"It was an absolutely crazy day," Jay Thomson said. "No team could really take control so it was such a mess trying to stay together. I’m really starting to believe i can be there for Gerald at the end of such days but today I really had to fight for every inch.

"In the end we got caught up behind the Cavendish crash so landed up with nothing. So for me it was a very disappointing day as I know Gerald had a really great shot for today."